Huss & Dalton Guitars
Huss and Dalton Guitar Company, Inc. took root in the fertile soil of the Shenandoah Valley, late in the summer of 1995, when Jeff Huss and Mark Dalton’s friendship and mutual interests inspired them to envision eminently playable, mellifluous, and attractive guitars that were true to their sense of aesthetics and tone. While the luthiers appreciated traditional design, they imagined a guitar that paid homage to tradition and also incorporated improvements to the structure and cosmetics of the distinctly American steel-string guitar.
Jeff Huss left North Dakota for Virginia, in 1984, to pursue his interest in bluegrass and traditional music. It was this interest and a Staunton law firm’s decision to purchase a computer that led him to Stelling Banjo Works where, for nine years, he honed his skills as an instrument maker. While Huss was still working for Stelling, he began building guitars in his home shop.
Native Virginian and equine aficionado Mark Dalton grew up in the South Central part of the state, where his family always enjoyed traditional music in the home and community. He began playing guitar at age 13 and banjo by 18. At a jam session in the early ’90s, he met Jeff Huss. Dalton, with years of experience working with finish processes, was hired by Stelling in 1994 and began his career in instrument building.
During a visit to Huss’s shop that fateful summer, the two began brainstorming ideas that sparked the evolution of Huss & Dalton Guitar Company.
For more, visit hussanddalton.com.
Huss & Dalton Guitars's Blog
000-SP Custom | Huss & DaltonOrganic Sounds' Larry Sogolow demonstrates a great 12-fret 000. Read More |
Jason Dennie, “Sittin’ On The Bank” | Huss & DaltonMichigan guitarist and vocalist performs on a Huss & Dalton DS Custom. Read More |
Huss & Dalton FS | Huss & DaltonHiroya Tsukamoto demonstrates Huss & Dalton's fingerstyle model. Read More |
Guitar Number 6,000 | Huss & DaltonThe Virginia custom instrument makers are celebrating their 6,000th guitar. Read More |
Huss and Dalton Statesboro SC ClassicA single-cut electric made from supreme materials. Read More |
The Honey Dewdrops | Huss & Dalton GuitarsThe singer-songwriter pair presents an acoustic duo version of “Holy Hymn.” Read More |
2014 TOM-R | Huss & Dalton GuitarsFingerstylist Dustin Furlow demonstrates a great OM built with Brazilian rosewood. Read More |
Huss and Dalton TOM-RA great rosewood OM that combines vintage and modern features. Read More |
The Honey Dewdrops, “Holy Hymn” | Huss & Dalton GuitarsThe singer-songwriter pair presents a song from their soon-to-be-released new album. Read More |
Jacob Evan Doss | Huss & Dalton GuitarsA tribute to a recently departed member of the Huss & Dalton Guitar family of artists. Read More |
Huss and Dalton CM Cutaway StandardA mid-size flattop that’s perfect for fingerstyle. Read More |
“Six String Journey” | Huss & DaltonDaniel "Mojo" Parker performs an original song on a pair of Huss & Dalton guitars. Read More |
Inside the Huss and Dalton Shop | Huss and Dalton GuitarsA video tour of the guitar and banjo maker's Staunton, Virginia, shop. Read More |
Huss & Dalton Statesboro SC ClassicJeff Huss and Mark Dalton discuss their company's new electric guitar Read More |
Huss and Dalton TD-R CustomA vintage-style dreadnought built with a thermo-cured red spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides. Read More |
Huss & Dalton Jefferson Edition OO-SP GuitarA short film about the creation of a meticulously crafted commemorative guitar, made with wood from a tulip poplar that stood on Thomas Jefferson’s estate at Monticello since 1808. Read More |
Huss and Dalton SingletreeSan Francisco multi-instrumentalist Rik Elswit demonstrates his 11-inch open-back Huss and Dalton banjo. Read More |
Huss and Dalton TD-RFormer Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show guitarist Rik Elswit demonstrates a Huss and Dalton dreadnought that was a surprise gift from the band’s lead singer. Read More |
Huss and Dalton TD-MA great mahogany dreadnought with a custom thermo-cured red spruce top. Read More |
Huss and Dalton Albert Lee MJ DeluxeA stunning maple jumbo built to country picker Albert Lee’s specs. Read More |
Molly Tuttle, “You Didn’t Call My Name” | Huss & DaltonThe songwriter, guitarist, and singer in the official video for an original song from her album “Rise.” Read More |
Huss and Dalton Custom FSAn elegant fingerstyle machine built with an Italian spruce top and sapele back and sides. Read More |
Molly Tuttle and Allison de Groot, “Bregottlåten” and “Road to Westfield” | Huss & DaltonNimblefingers Music presents a beautiful guitar and banjo duet. Read More |
Molly Tuttle, “Chinquapin Hunting” | Huss & Dalton Guitar CompanyThe guitarist and songwriter flatpicks an old-time tune on a Huss & Dalton Crossroads Deluxe at Gryphon Stringed Instruments. Read More |
Made in Virginia | Huss & Dalton Guitar CompanyJeff Huss and Mark Dalton talk with WVPT Public Television about the history of their company and show the process of making fine custom guitars. Read More |
Molly Tuttle, “Good Enough” | Huss & DaltonThe songwriter, guitarist, and singer plays an original song from her new album “Rise.” Read More |
Huss and Dalton 00 CustomA contemporary take on the 12-fret 00 built with beautiful sinker mahogany. Read More |
Huss & Dalton | Molly Tuttle, “Save This Heart”The songwriter, guitarist, and singer plays an original song from her forthcoming album “Rise.” Read More |
Molly Tuttle, “Rain and Snow” | Huss & DaltonThe songwriter, guitarist, and singer plays the traditional favorite with John Mailander on fiddle, Hasee Ciaccio on bass, and Wes Corbett on banjo. Read More |
Molly Tuttle, “Save This Heart” | Huss & DaltonThe songwriter, guitarist, and singer plays her original song with Sam Grisman on bass and John Mailander on fiddle. Read More |
Huss & Dalton Guitar CompanyJeff Huss and Mark Dalton have been hand crafting beautiful guitars for over 20 years. Here's an inside look at their shop. Read More |
Huss and Dalton OM 20th-Anniversary SeriesVirginia guitar makers celebrate their 20th anniversary with a special series. Read More |
Huss & Dalton | Artisan Guitars’ Builder SpotlightMark Dalton talks about Huss & Dalton's building philosophy, their series built with poplar from Monticello, and more. Molly Tuttle joins Mark to demonstrate guitars. Read More |
The Honey Dewdrops | “Same Old”Huss & Dalton Guitar Company presents The Honey Dewdrops playing an original song on Music City Roots. Read More |
Robin and Linda Williams:“The Devil is a Mighty Wind”The husband-and-wife duo perform their original song on “A Prairie Home Companion.” Read More |
Huss & Dalton: BindingHuss & Dalton Guitar Company shows the process of applying, affixing, and trimming the binding on the guitar body during assembly. Read More |
Huss & Dalton: Completing the Guitar BodyHuss & Dalton Guitar Company shows how they complete the guitar body during assembly. Read More |
Huss & Dalton: Fitting the Guitar TopHuss & Dalton Guitar Company shows how they prepare the top of the guitar for a perfect fit on the back and sides of the instrument. Read More |
Huss & Dalton: Building Guitar SidesHuss & Dalton shows how they create the sides of a guitar, from bending the wood to placing the end block, kerfing, bracing, and more. Read More |
Albert Lee | “Country Boy”The influential guitarist plays his song "Country Boy" on his custom Huss & Dalton T-0014. Read More |
Mary Chapin Carpenter, “I Have a Need for Solitude”Mary Chapin Carpenter plays her custom Huss & Dalton OO-SP in the studio in this take on her song from the album "The Age of Miracles." Read More |
Huss & Dalton Guitar Company | CM Series ComparisonBlue Light Studio Review Sessions presents a comparison of Huss & Dalton's CM Series 12-fret rosewood and CM Series 14-fret mahogany guitars. Read More |
Huss & Dalton: Fitting the Back and TopHuss & Dalton gives us a look at how they prepare and fit he back, top, and sides of their guitars. Read More |
The Honey Dewdrops: “Loneliest Songs”Read More |